Zoo Animal Inspiration

 Here are a few pictures I took at the Henry Vilas Zoo in Madison, Wisconsin to inspire me.  The zoo is free and is quite nice.

This swan resting reminds me of an illustration in a Dover animal book.  I also have a slightly blurry picture of the swan in a classic curved neck position. 

This polar bear was pacing and irritated.  He really looked as if he wanted to maul most of his audience, deranged by the captivity.

Everyone needs a flamingo picture.

I don't think I'll use any prairie dogs in my art, but I thought the scene was just too cute.

My son took this picture of some lemurs, through glass, and I love it.

Now from my Garden

A daisy

4 shots from my Rosa Rugosa Rubra, the best smelling rose ever, the one that reminds me of Maine.

A thistle-like flower bud.  It will end up with a blue fuzzy thistle like globe flower.  I can't remember what it is called.  It's planted next to my Hansa rose bush.

Finally, this is a dead, but perfectly preserved Monarch Butterfly that my son found on the roadside in Lansing, Iowa yesterday.  We brought it home.  I've photographed and sketched it.